our_
business, and he should not be treated as if he was a hardened
criminal for it. I am worth eight million pounds, and I don't have to
take your sass, or the Earl's either, if I don't feel like it."

And the speaker cleared his throat and looked defiantly at me, as if I
were responsible for all of Holmes's actions.

"Eight million pounds of what? Turnips?" said my unimpressed partner.
"That doesn't cut any ice with me whatever! I only did my duty in
going after the stolen gems in the most strenuous manner possible, and
if you feel like putting on the gloves with me to have it out, I will
meet you at any time at my rooms, 221-B Baker Street, in London, and
then we'll see who's the better man."

And Hemlock lit another cigarette.

"Here, here! You don't have to fight about it, you know. I guess it's
bad enough for Uncle Tooter to leave me to-morrow, without a threat of
fisticuffs. Not that I care a hang about the social _mesalliance_ he's
committing in marrying the Countess's maid, but the fact of his
implication in the robbery has me all cut up."

"Well, if that's the way you feel about it, Earl, you'd better grab
hold of something for support when I inform you that the person who
had the eleventh and last cuff-button in his wrongful possession was
none other than your beloved brother and heir, Lord Launcelot. Here he
comes now. I guess he must have been so out of breath from that hard
race up to the roof that he couldn't walk down again as fast as we
could."

Here Holmes pointed to Launcelot, who came into the library just then
with a frown on his face and with most of his recent defiant manner
gone. The Earl sat down hard in his chair, put his hands over his face
for a moment, and then hollered for help to his best friend,--the
butler.

"O Harrigan, Harrigan!" he called, "pour me out a glass of the
stiffest brandy you've got in the place, with a dash of absinthe in
it! Help! Life-saving service quick!"

"Yes, yes; I'm coming!" shouted Harrigan, who came running in, and
ministered unto the Earl's needs from the supply of potables that was
always kept handy on the sideboard in the dining-room, so he wouldn't
have to lose so much time going all the way down to the wine-cellar.

"And say,--pour out a glass or two, or a decanter or two, of the
castle's best wine for the Honorable Mr. Holmes, who has just now
recovered all my stolen diamond cuff-buttons, Joe. Give him a
barrelful of it if he can stand it,--giv